| Bee Balm typically blooms in midsummer, but 'Leading Lady Plum' blooms earlier, forming a more compact clump than other Varieties (like 'Pardon My Purple'). This variety typically blooms from early summer (the first week of June in Michigan) into midsummer and grows just a foot tall. 'Leading Lady Plum' has densely branched, dark green, somewhat glossy foliage topped with magenta purple blossoms coddled by deep blackish purple bracts. A fine mist of dark purple spots appears on the open petals. After the first flush of flowers passes full bloom, a secondary flush blooms above the initial flowers, extending the color show into midsummer. 'Leading Lady Plum' is well-behaved in the garden; It stays where you plant it and doesn't run around. The blossoms' sweet nectar is beautiful to butterflies, hummingbirds, and honeybees, and the aromatic foliage is naturally deer-resistant. |
